DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 4 Original 2025 Regular Session Owen
Abstract: Authorizes individual parishes to determine whether Class VI carbon dioxide injection
wells may be permitted within their parish by action of the parish governing authority or by
local option election.
Present law authorizes the Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources to permit Class VI carbon dioxide
injection wells within the state.
Proposed law creates an exception to the dept.'s permitting authority for any parish where Class VI
wells have been prohibited by the local governing authority or by a local option election.
Proposed law authorizes parish governing authorities to determine by resolution or ordinance
whether Class VI wells may be permitted within the parish.
Proposed law further authorizes parish governing authorities to order a parish-wide election on their
own initiative for electors of the parish to determine whether Class VI wells should be permitted in
the parish.
Proposed law requires a parish governing authority to order a parish-wide election if 15% of the
qualified electors of the parish sign a petition requesting an election on the question of whether Class
VI wells should be permitted within the parish. Proposed law requires that this petition be certified
by the parish registrar of voters.
Proposed law requires the parish governing authority to pass the results of any election by resolution
or ordinance.
Proposed law only allows for one election to be held for this purpose within a five-year period.
Proposed law provides that any conflict between an independent action of the parish governing
authority and the results of an election called for this purpose will be resolved in favor of the election
results. If such a conflict occurs, proposed law also provides that the prevailing election results
cannot be superseded by any independent action of the parish governing authority for five years
following the election.
Proposed law requires the parish governing authority to notify the dept. of any resolution, ordinance,
or election results stemming from proposed law. Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 30:1104(G) and 1104.3)